Medical equipment financing lets a practice pay for imaging systems, lasers, exam tables, lab analyzers or IT over several years, usually with the equipment itself as collateral. Banks that specialize in healthcare, independent equipment lenders and SBA loans all offer it, and the right choice depends on the equipment’s cost, how long it will stay useful and how strong your practice’s finances are. It is one of the options covered in our medical practice financing hub.
Before comparing lenders, decide whether you want to own the equipment (a loan or a lease with a buyout) or use it and give it back (a true lease). That choice drives the payment, the tax treatment and what happens when the technology moves on.
What you can finance
Almost any equipment a practice uses to treat patients or run the office can be financed:
- Diagnostic imaging: ultrasound, X-ray, CT, MRI and bone density systems.
- Treatment equipment: lasers, surgical tables, physical therapy and rehab equipment, dental chairs.
- Lab and testing: analyzers, centrifuges, point-of-care testing.
- Aesthetic devices: laser and body-contouring systems (see cosmetic and aesthetic equipment financing).
- Technology: EHR systems, servers, workstations and practice management software.
- Used and refurbished equipment: often cheaper, but lenders may shorten the term to match the remaining useful life (see used equipment financing).
Medical equipment financing options compared
The table shows terms as each lender or the SBA publishes them. Of the lenders we checked, only Kapitus publishes a rate, and it quotes a starting interest rate without saying whether it is an APR. Checked September 21, 2026.
| Option | Amounts | Term | Pricing as published | Minimums published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare practice loan (U.S. Bank) | Not published | “Up to 15 years (or up to 25 years for commercial real estate) for qualifying clients” | Not published | Not published | “Up to 100% financing options”; can be used to “acquire diagnostic tools (MRI, X-ray, ultrasound)” |
| Equipment financing (Kapitus) | From $20,000; “No Maximum” | Up to 72 months | Interest rates “Starting at 7.5%” (APR not stated) | FICO 660; 2 years in business | Up to 100% of equipment cost; application-only up to $500,000 |
| SBA 7(a) loan | Up to $5 million | Up to 10 years for equipment | SBA caps the rate; lender sets it | SBA eligibility plus lender standards | Can bundle equipment with working capital |
| SBA 504 loan | Up to $5.5 million | 10, 20 or 25 years | Fixed rate tied to 10-year Treasuries | SBA eligibility plus lender standards | Equipment must have at least 10 years of remaining useful life |
| Equipment lease | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | Lower payments on some structures; you may not own it at the end |
Sources: U.S. Bank, Kapitus, SBA 7(a), SBA 7(a) terms, SBA 504.
Healthcare-focused bank loans
Some banks run practice-finance teams that lend to physicians, dentists and other clinicians, sometimes at longer terms than general equipment lenders offer. U.S. Bank, for example, advertises terms “up to 15 years” and “up to 100% financing options” for qualifying clients, subject to “normal credit approval and program guidelines.” These programs tend to suit established practices with clean financial statements.
Independent equipment lenders
Equipment finance companies often move faster and ask for less paperwork. Kapitus publishes a 660 FICO minimum, two years in business, terms up to 72 months and an application-only process for amounts up to $500,000. The trade-off is often a shorter term, which means a higher monthly payment for the same equipment.
SBA loans
A 7(a) loan can pay for equipment alongside working capital or a practice acquisition, with terms up to 10 years for equipment. The 504 program suits large, long-lived purchases: it finances “long-term machinery and equipment with a useful remaining life of a minimum of 10 years,” and its rate is “pegged to an increment above the current market rate for 10-year U.S. Treasury issues” (SBA 504). For the differences, see our guide to SBA 7(a) vs. 504 vs. microloans.
Leasing
A lease can lower the payment and make it easier to upgrade technology that ages quickly, such as imaging software or aesthetic lasers. The catch is that, depending on the lease type, you may pay more over time or have nothing to show for it at the end. We compare the two in equipment financing vs. leasing.
Tax treatment: Section 179 and bonus depreciation
Financed equipment can still qualify for accelerated tax write-offs. According to the IRS, the Section 179 expensing limit for tax years beginning in 2026 is $2.56 million, and the deduction starts to phase out dollar for dollar once equipment placed in service in the year exceeds $4.09 million. The IRS also says 100% bonus depreciation is now permanent for qualified property acquired after January 19, 2025 (IRS: business tax provisions; IRS: bonus depreciation guidance).
How these apply depends on how the deal is structured (loan, finance lease or operating lease), your entity type and your income. Ask your CPA before you sign, not after.
What lenders look for
- Practice cash flow. Lenders want to see that current collections cover existing debt plus the new payment. Recent tax returns, a year-to-date profit and loss statement and bank statements are standard. Our guide to how lenders analyze cash flow explains the math.
- Personal credit of the owners. Kapitus, for example, publishes a 660 FICO minimum. Banks set their own thresholds.
- Time in practice. Kapitus asks for two years in business. Banks with practice-finance programs may work with newer practices or practice acquisitions, but set their own conditions.
- The equipment itself. A vendor quote with make, model, age and price. New equipment from an established manufacturer is easier to finance than used or specialty items.
- Licensing and ownership. Lenders confirm the practitioners are licensed and that the entity borrowing owns and runs the practice.
- Return on the equipment. For a large purchase, a simple projection of the procedures or tests the equipment will add, and what payers reimburse for them, makes a stronger case.
Pitfalls to avoid
- A term longer than the equipment’s useful life. You do not want to be paying for an ultrasound unit after it has been replaced.
- Comparing payments, not total cost. Ask each lender for the rate, every fee and the total of all payments. A low payment on a long lease can cost more in the end.
- Missing the end-of-lease terms. Know whether the buyout is fixed or at fair market value, and how much notice you must give to return the equipment.
- Blanket liens. Some lenders file a lien on all business assets rather than just the equipment. That can make future borrowing harder; see what a UCC filing is.
- Ignoring reimbursement risk. If the equipment depends on one payer’s reimbursement, a change in that payer’s policy can leave you with payments and no revenue from the device.
For more on keeping payments in line with collections, read how medical practices can finance equipment without disrupting cash flow.
FAQ
Can I finance 100% of medical equipment?
Some lenders offer it. U.S. Bank advertises “up to 100% financing options” and Kapitus says it can finance up to 100% of the equipment cost for qualified borrowers. Others will ask for a down payment, especially on used equipment or for newer practices.
How long can medical equipment loans run?
It depends on the lender and the equipment. Kapitus publishes terms up to 72 months, U.S. Bank advertises practice loan terms up to 15 years, SBA 7(a) equipment loans run up to 10 years and SBA 504 loans offer 10, 20 or 25 years.
Can a new practice get medical equipment financing?
Some lenders will work with new practices, especially healthcare-focused banks that look at the practitioners’ training and earning potential. Independent lenders with time-in-business minimums, such as Kapitus’s two years, may not.
Does financing affect my Section 179 deduction?
Equipment bought with a loan can qualify; leases depend on their structure. The IRS limits for 2026 are a $2.56 million deduction and a $4.09 million phase-out threshold. Your CPA can confirm how your lease or loan structure is treated.
Is veterinary equipment financed the same way?
Mostly, yes. Veterinary practices use the same loan, lease and SBA options; see veterinary practice financing.
Next step
Get a written quote for the equipment, then pull together recent tax returns and bank statements for the practice. Our medical practice financing page explains how we compare equipment loans, leases and SBA offers from the lenders we work with, so you can look at total cost side by side.
Sources
- U.S. Bank: Medical practice loans and financing
- Kapitus: Equipment financing
- U.S. Small Business Administration: 7(a) loans
- U.S. Small Business Administration: 7(a) terms, conditions and eligibility
- U.S. Small Business Administration: 504 loans
- IRS: Understanding the Working Families Tax Cuts business tax provisions
- IRS: Guidance on the additional first year depreciation deduction
About this page. Written by Ezra Cabrera, Content Team Lead at SMB Compass. Figures were checked against the primary sources listed above on September 21, 2026; lenders change their terms, so confirm current terms before you apply, and let us know if you spot a figure that has changed. SMB Compass is a business financing broker: we don’t lend our own money, and we are paid by the lenders we place loans with. This page is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice.
Financing by equipment type
A closer look at financing for specific pieces of diagnostic equipment.